Fresh off a scare that saw a radical initiative petition effort to make it a crime to hunt, fish and raise animals for food in Oregon come up shy of qualifying for the 2026 ballot, a newly announced proposal would permanently protect those activities.
Oregon state Sen. Christine Drazen, a candidate for governor, unveiled a draft bill to amend the Oregon Constitution. It would “declare a constitutional right to hunt, fish, harvest wildlife, gather wild foods and plants and raise livestock, poultry, crops, trees and other resources.” It would also “promote conservation or management of wildlife or other natural resources for present and future generations.”
Anti-hunting and animal rights activists behind Initiative Petition 28 failed for the third consecutive election cycle to qualify it on the 2026 ballot. They submitted 142,784 signatures, but the Oregon Secretary of State’s office rejected 27 percent of them as invalid, leaving proponents short of qualifying
“Oregon should not be the testing ground for extreme measures that threaten affordability, local food production, consumer choice and thousands of jobs that connect us with putting food on the table with our farms and ranches,” Drazan told the Oregon Capital Chronicle. “Activities like farming, ranching, hunting and fishing are all a part of our heritage, our economy and our everyday lives.”
David Michelson, IP 28 chief petitioner, told the Oregon Capital Chronicle that even if Drazen’s measure qualifies for the ballot, he would also be able to use the ballot initiative process for his measure in the future. However, a constitutional change, as Drazan proposes, would likely preclude a statutory measure as IP28 contained.
Gauging the political temperature of protecting hunting, fishing
For Drazen’s proposal to legislatively qualify for the 2028 ballot, it first must be introduced in the 2027 legislative session and then approved by state lawmakers.
Right now, Oregon Democrats have a super majority in both the Oregon State Senate and the Oregon House or Representatives, plus the governor is also a Democrat. Drazen is a Republican and was surrounded by fellow Republicans when she made the announcement. She reportedly invited nearby Democratic lawmakers to attend, but none did so.
Looking back at the IP 28 effort, not a single Democrat or Republican came out in support. In fact, all 37 Oregon House Democrats released this statement: “Our caucus represents a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives, but we are united in opposing Initiative Petition 28. Criminalizing farming, ranching, hunting, and fishing is wrong. It threatens the livelihoods of families and communities across our state. It ignores the treaty rights of all nine federally recognized Tribes in Oregon. Oregon deserves solutions that reflect our values, respect our diverse communities, and bring people together rather than divide them. For these reasons, we oppose this measure.”
Gov. Tina Kotek also chimed in, saying, “I oppose it. Criminalizing activities like hunting and fishing would be wrong for Oregon. I know tribal leaders, farmers and ranchers and Oregonians across the state who care deeply about protecting our land. This petition does nothing to help them, and it risks criminalizing common agricultural practices that are critical to Oregon’s economy.”
However, after her gubernatorial opponent’s announcement, the Kotek administration released this statement: “While IP-28 was the wrong thing to do for Oregon, this proposed amendment feels like political theater from Senator Drazan. Amending the constitution requires a thoughtful approach and conversations with Oregonians across the state,” Federico Araujo, Tina for Oregon spokesman, told KGW-TV.
So, the question remains. Will there be enough bipartisan support to pass Drazen’s draft bill or will it require a citizens’ initiative petition and the required signature gathering process to place it on the ballot? The 2027 Oregon legislative session will begin on Jan. 11.
Currently, 24 states have the right to fish and hunt in their constitutions: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Colorado may be the 25th. Proponents recently submitted 180,000 signatures. The Colorado Secretary of State’s office is reviewing them to determine if that measure qualifies for the November 3 ballot.
About Hunt 2 Conserve
Hunt 2 Conserve is a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Its mission is to advance a legacy of hunting and conservation by educating, activating and developing stewards and defenders of these fundamentally American ideals. For more information, go to hunt2conserve.org.
